It was probably for wound care not for cleaning the kitchen counters. However, the cough syrup used back then was probably an opiate (or whiskey) which could have caused respiratory suppression which on top of pertussis could have killed the kid.

You don’t need bad light to dish out the wrong stuff. I once saw a kid whose mother was feeding him terfenadine (nondrowsy antihistamine) syrup for his asthma. Without result, and with potentially toxic (cardiac arrhythmia) side effects.

And I innocently said “What’re you using telfast syrup for? I’d have the kid on a Bricanyl inhaler.”

Whoashit… Terfenadine. Terbutaline. I’m sure she could see the look of dismay on my face as the mental gears clicked.

And I said “I think there’s been a bit of a mistake made here.”

Sometimes trade names are best! And yes, she was indeed feeding a poisonous dose to her ‘baby’! (Fortunately without consequence.)